Augusta’s new $36.4 million boat harbour has been labelled a “game-changer” by whale watching ships about to embark on the 2015 season from Saturday.
With passengers now able to walk right onto the boats instead of being ferried by dinghies tours are less likely to be cancelled by rougher seas.
While the larger vessels could handle the swells fine the dinghies could be too dangerous to take out meaning tours were cancelled.
“We don’t know how many customers missed out getting onto boats,” Legend Charters operator Sandy Jensen said.
“It’s also a lot safer just having to step on board.
“It will also open up the market to people who are less agile – some people would turn up and take one look at the dinghy and say ‘no way!’.”
With up to 35,000 Humpback and Southern Right Whales, and even the occasional rare Blue Whale, travelling through the Margaret River region there was plenty to miss out on whenever a tour was cancelled.
Augusta plays host to the first half of the season before the whales will migrate off to the warmer waters on Geographe Bay throughout September and November.
After five years of watching whales Ms Jenson has discovered that they feed off the positive energy on the boats and will put on a show when the crowd is excited.
“They are just mammals like us,” she said.
“They are watching us as much as we watch them and when the energy is good they come close.
“We've had some within metres of the boat.”
Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association CEO Pip Close said the region boasts one of the world’s largest whale watching seasons and is expecting more whale watchers to visit Augusta attracted by the new harbour.
“Whale watching is an iconic winter experience, and the spectacular new boat harbor at Augusta will significantly enhance the experience for visitors.
“We expect to see an increase in whale watchers this year as a result,” she said.
Whale watching tours will start heading out from May 23 until the season closed in a few months time.
